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Oakley Frames?

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I was wondering if any of you guys have any input on Oakley's O-Matter frames?
I own some Oakley Bottle caps my wife gave me for my birthday about 4 months ago, but to be honest, I've been babying them and haven't mistreated them in any way. If any I'm worried I'll break them.
In all truth, I don't mistreat any of my sunglasses at all, however I keep finding that the frames on all the cheaper ones I've owned have snapped while putting them on. If you're wondering, they have never been abused, or have been too tight. All I do is go from my eyes to my head when I go in to a store, and back on my eyes when I walk out.
I'm thinking of getting some Flak Jackets for work and play, so I would hate to spend $100+ on something that might snap in two like my old Dewalts among other "work/heavy duty" sunglasses.
Anyway, I hope to hear some of you guys out there with stories of dropping them from 100ft and all that good stuff.

for the most part, the "o-matter" stuff is very strong and forgiving. the lenses themselves are fairly easy to scratch, and will likely be more of a burden to you before the frames will ever give you trouble. this is true though for any pair of shades though, don't you think?

i'm all about oakley's design and fit, and will continue to purchase/wear them as long as they don't change.

a simple drop will not make them snap, for sure. i've worn the "minutes" and "monster dogs" through a tour in iraq, no problems. the added benefit is they are ANSI certified protective eyewear, and much classier for the ladies.

anyhow, use them like you mean it. the are athletic sunglasses and can likely take what you've got to give. also, the US government thinks they're a-ok, as they're also issued gear (the M-frames). i never got a pair though >:-o

PS, i know i listed a lot of models that i've owned -- i never broke the frames. they are fairly dummy-proof, but not loss-proof :'(

Thanks for the info Midget!
I figured that if the military issues them, they have to be good stuff. I've heard that the ANSI requirement are pretty strict, and all that is certified by them is pretty rugged.
Well as far as the lens scratching, I've been lucky enough to say that my last work shades, which were DeWalt Infinity work sunglasses lasted about 4 months before they snapped, and didn't have a single scratch on them. The reason I bought them is because they are ANSI certified as well, and I figured they would be as bomb proof as their tools.
Once again your input is greatly appreciated, an pushing me closer to pull the trigger on those Flak Jackets.

I beat the heck out of mine use them while in the garage playing with steel one day I stepped on them and broke them... called Oakley explained what happened and they sent me out a new set of frames over night.. I still have them I use my halfjackets for everything..

Ive got a set of M-frames that are on their second deployment and besides scratched up lenses, are still like new. And I am hard on my glasses, they have been kicked, stepped on and dropped many times with no issues. I've even stepped on the lense itself, flattened it and it still didn't break. Ive owned about 5 different pairs of oakleys, never broke any but have lost a few. The Flak Jackets are great too. Many guys I know used to wear them all the time until they because unauthorized for wear in combat. I think for the money, oakleys are great glasses.

i have a pair of gas can S made of O matter and i am allways afraid that they are going to break.... they feel cheaply made for a 100+$ pair of glasses but honestly i they are tougher that they feel... i have had mine for a while now and no problems... except for scuffing like crazy

I use flakjackets as my regular set of sunglasses and have a set of radarpath for the bike. I also use the radarpath frames as my safety glasses as they have clear and yellow lense kits that are pretty cheap. I have not had any problems with either set and have found them to be pretty hardy all round.

Thank you guys for your comments!
I went in to a Lens Crafters today and saw some Flak jackets on display.
Talking to the sales person, came to find out that the reason why my cheapos have been braking is because of the way I put them on my face or head. The sales person asked me to put the Flaks on and immediately told me that the reason I keep breaking them is because I grab them from the legs and open them to put them on. "The reason why I do this is because the rubber on the tip of the legs get stuck on my face on the way behind my ears" I said. his response was "your just supposed to just slide them in, or if you don't, you'll break any frame you ever buy".
Whats your take on this???

I don't see how you put them on can make a difference uless you do it rather roughly and stress the joints. I thought the whole point of the Oakley open frames was so that they have a bit of flex to them as well as being able to change the lenses. You have to flex the frames to get the lenses out when you want to change them any way.....

I don't see how you put them on can make a difference uless you do it rather roughly and stress the joints. I thought the whole point of the Oakley open frames was so that they have a bit of flex to them as well as being able to change the lenses. You have to flex the frames to get the lenses out when you want to change them any way.....

My thought exactly!
The more I played with the Flaks, the more I noticed this was something that wont be an issue because they're very flexible, and don't even have any screws or anything to hold the legs on. You can remove the legs by simply twisting and puling, as with removing the lens.
I kinda think this guy doesn't know his Oakleys very well, therefore I'll just keep doing my research, and hopefully conclude to pull the trigger on them.

Thank you guys for your comments!
I went in to a Lens Crafters today and saw some Flak jackets on display.
Talking to the sales person, came to find out that the reason why my cheapos have been braking is because of the way I put them on my face or head. The sales person asked me to put the Flaks on and immediately told me that the reason I keep breaking them is because I grab them from the legs and open them to put them on. "The reason why I do this is because the rubber on the tip of the legs get stuck on my face on the way behind my ears" I said. his response was "your just supposed to just slide them in, or if you don't, you'll break any frame you ever buy".
Whats your take on this???

huh.

yea i dunno, i guess the lenscrafters people are the experts so i'd listen to them.

but oakley frames and made to be a little flexible, and provide a nice grip around your head. they are sports sunglasses! unless you have an unusually large head, i think you will be ok with oakley frames.

Hard Use sunglasses? How do you "baby" a pair of shades exactly, aside from not using them? I've owned over a dozen pairs of Oakleys in my lifetime, been using them for over 15 years:
M Frames (4 different pairs including safety glasses)
M Frame w/ Sweep
O Wires
E Wires
Square Wires
X-Metal Juliet
Straight Jacket
Half Jacket
Half Wires

If you care for your sunglasses as if they were prescription glasses (and not seat cusions, hammers, frisbies, etc) they should last a long time. I wear sunglasses anytime I am outside, living in the desert the sun takes an especially hard toll on your eyes, even on cloudy days. The glasses will not break under normal use. If you want some real hardcore safety glasses that work as sunglasses check out Revision Military Eyewear. The Sawfly withstands a shotgun blast with #6 lead shot, but your face wouldn't.

Well, thanks to all of your advise I went ahead and ordered a pair of Flack Jackets today.
I actually called Oakley customer service to get some more info and was surprised by what I was told. The guy I talked to said that the reason cheap sunglasses break is because they're normally cheap brittle plastic/abs construction, and under stress they'll fracture and eventually break. Oakley's o-matter technology is tough and "elastic like" if you will, and will basically stretch and deform before it breaks under EXTREME abuse.
On top of that, he said that if the frames did break or snap they will replace them.
So there you have it!
Oakley got it just right!!!

PS - Goes to show you how much Lens Crafters employees know about the product they sell!

Well, thanks to all of your advise I went ahead and ordered a pair of Flack Jackets today.
I actually called Oakley customer service to get some more info and was surprised by what I was told. The guy I talked to said that the reason cheap sunglasses break is because they're normally cheap brittle plastic/abs construction, and under stress they'll fracture and eventually break. Oakley's o-matter technology is tough and "elastic like" if you will, and will basically stretch and deform before it breaks under EXTREME abuse.
On top of that, he said that if the frames did break or snap they will replace them.
So there you have it!
Oakley got it just right!!!

PS - Goes to show you how much Lens Crafters employees know about the product they sell!

That's part of the reason why paying a bit more for Oakleys is worth it in the end. I'm sure
you will be happy with the Flaks, I'm off to get a new lens kit for mine today actually.

As for that guy in the shop, well, some people just like talking..........